Hidden Desires

Year 10 2002-2003: Will you be my Valentine, Sierra?

14th February. Valentine's day. I dreaded this day. A day for couples to smooch and smooch and smooch some more. Ergh! I only felt that way, because I knew that as soon as I'd enter the school gates, popular couples like Lorena O'Brien and Omar Daniels, Elodie McQueen and James Black and many others, would be all over one another. The girls, in particular, would be showing off their single roses, chocolates, cards and teddy bears. I knew, just like any other Valentine's day, that I wouldn't get a single thing. Sigh.

By lunch time, the playground felt like it was filled with love. Despite the cold February breeze, you could literally feel the love in the air. It was disgusting. I pulled up my hood and shivered. I looked around hoping to find Myah's baby blue coat. But it was red this, heart that. Red, red and more red. Sickening.

"Oh my goodness!" Myah screamed with happiness, running towards me. Her freckles were more visible in the sun. She was stunning. I smiled at her.

"Hey Myah. Where were you?" I asked her puzzled, giving her a hug.

"Well, I was talking to Carter Jones... and...he finally asked me...to be... his valentine!" Myah blurted excitingly.

"Ooooooh no wayyyyy!" I said jumping up and down for joy.

Despite feeling miserable, I genuinely was happy for her. Myah wasn't a confident girl at all. But I knew she had a crush on Carter Jones. And he had been throwing mixed signals at her for a while now. It was good to know at least one of us were happy. There was hope. Simultaneously, Jordan Peterson and Amelia Evans, walked past us hand in hand, Amelia was smiling from ear to ear, with a massive bouquet of red roses. Wow!

"And he gave me these!" Myah continued, showing a red envelope with a box of Lindor chocolates and an adorable beige teddy.

"Awww this is sooo adorable!" I cooed back.

We walked around the playground, whilst Myah told me all about Carter's romantic gesture. We were near the technology block, watching the boys play football in the cage, when Brenda Clarke walked over to us.

"Sierra, Jaime was asking about you. He asked me if I knew where you were," Brenda explained.

Brenda was going out with Marlon Austin. She too, had ravishing gifts in her hands. My stomach was in knots. Did he have something for me? I laughed at the silly idea.

"Oh really? Thanks. I'll see if I can find him," I stated wondering suspiciously, why Brenda was smirking at Myah.

"No need. He's right over there," Brenda pointed behind me.

I turned around and saw Jaime walking briskly over in my direction. My heart was beating. Could this be the moment? I looked over at Myah, who grinned and whispered something inaudible in Brenda's ear. They both started giggling.

"Hey Sierra. I've been looking everywhere for you," Jaime informed me.

He had both hands hidden behind his back. I attempt to look behind him, but he moves away quickly.

"What you hiding Jaime?" I asked impatiently but smiling.

"These are for you," Jamie revealed a single rose, and a golden envelope.

Wow! The rose was in fact, a small brown teddy bear holding the rose. I'd seen these in Jack's, a few mornings ago.

"For me? Aww that's really sweet. Thank you Jaime," I replied whilst opening the golden envelope.

I flipped the card around and saw the letters 'Sierra'. I traced my fingers overs my name, smiling and opened it. The card was also gold, with a red heart in the middle. The words 'WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?' written in bold. I opened the card and saw that Jamie had copied the same message. 'Will you be my valentine Sierra? J x' I looked up, stared into his beautiful brown eyes and smiled so much that my jaws began to hurt. But I didn't care. Jaime wrapped his large arms around me and we stood there hugging for what felt like eternity. 'Man like J', 'is that you yeah' and few 'aww' from surrounding people, made us realise we were being watched. I turned back around and saw Myah winking at me. She'd known all along. I then realised, that this must of been what her and Brenda were whispering about. The day was a breeze after that. I think I was smitten. My Jaime. Happy Valentine's day to me too.